👑 Nizam Museum
H.E.H. Nizam's Museum – A Glimpse into Hyderabad's Royal Past at Purani Haveli
A Royal Repository: In the heart of old Hyderabad, a few lanes away from the iconic Charminar, lies a fascinating collection of articles belonging to the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII. This museum showcases the gifts and mementos that the last Nizam of Hyderabad State received on his silver jubilee celebrations in 1936.
The museum was opened on 18 February 2000 by the Nizam Trust to the general public, serving as a tribute to the development that Hyderabad State saw during Osman Ali Khan and his father's rule.
📜 The Legacy of the Seventh Nizam
During India's partition, the state of Hyderabad was the largest princely state in the country, with a population of roughly 16.34 million people. It had its own army, airline, telecommunication system, railway network, postal system, and radio broadcasting service – a kingdom within a kingdom.
💰 The Wealthiest Man of All Time: Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam, was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the wealthiest man of all time, with a fortune estimated at over $230 billion in today's value. The Nizam put together a vast collection which he kept adding to, later making a trust to hold and display this collection to the public.
"The HEH Nizam Museum was created by the Nizam Trust as a tribute to the development that Hyderabad State saw during Osman Ali Khan and his father's rule," says Bhaskar Rao, chief curator of the museum.
✨ Treasures on Display – A Golden Legacy
As one enters the rather ordinary-looking museum, there is a plethora of history – from perfume bottles and cups studded with pearls to a model of the Arts College, Osmania University, which was declared open by the Nizam on December 4, 1939.
👑 The Golden Throne: The real eye-catching piece is a golden throne placed at the end of the main room. This magnificent throne was used for the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Last Nizam in 1936, symbolizing the immense wealth and power of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.
Other remarkable exhibits include:
- Models made of silver of all the landmark buildings in Hyderabad, including the Arts College of Osmania University
- Citations in Urdu about H.E.H. Mir Osman Ali Khan
- A gold tiffin box inlaid with diamonds
- A miniature replica of the Jubilee Hall
- A glass inlay painting of Mir Osman Ali Khan
- A wooden writing box studded with mother-of-pearl
- Diamond and gold-studded daggers and caskets
- Silver ittardans (perfume containers) presented by the Raja of Palvancha
- Silver coffee cups studded with diamonds
- A silver filigree elephant with mahout
- A silver replica of a tree with Lord Krishna playing
🚗 The Vintage Car Collection
The museum also houses an impressive collection of vintage automobiles that once belonged to the Nizams:
- A 1930 Rolls Royce – a masterpiece of British luxury engineering
- A Packard – American luxury at its finest
- A Jaguar Mark V – British elegance and performance
These cars, maintained in pristine condition, offer a glimpse into the transportation luxury enjoyed by Hyderabad's royalty.
📏 The World's Largest Wardrobe – A Nizam's Extravagance
👔 The 176-Foot Wardrobe: The museum features the infamous wardrobe of the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan. Khan was rumored to have never worn the same clothes twice, resulting in the 72-meter-long (176 feet), two-storey Burmese teak wardrobe at the end of the museum. This is considered the world's largest walk-through wardrobe and is one of its kind.
The cupboard, which is said to have 130 doors, also showcases the clothes worn by his wife and a huge collection of footwear from the royal family.
🕰️ Other Unique Exhibits – A Journey Through Time
The museum is home to several other remarkable artifacts that transport visitors back to the era of the Nizams:
- A 150-year-old manually operated lift – a marvel of engineering for its time
- 200-year-old proclamation drums – once used to announce royal decrees
- Silver models of all landmark buildings in Hyderabad
- An extensive collection of paintings, daggers, swords, and aeroplane models
🏛️ Purani Haveli – The Palace Museum
The collection has been housed in the stately Purani Haveli ("Old Palace"), which holds a special place in the history of the last ruling dynasty, as several Nizams were born and spent parts of their lives there. The main building which accommodates the Nizam's Museum is flanked by two long wings running parallel to each other. The Nizam's collection occupies one of the wings.
🏺 Hyderabad City Museum – Tracing 4,000 Years of History
The other wing of Purani Haveli houses the Hyderabad City Museum – an extension built in 2012. While the Nizam Museum offers a glimpse into the 19th and 20th centuries, the City Museum traces the history of the area to more than 4,000 years ago.
🏺 Archaeological Treasures: "We don't know what Hyderabad was called before 1591, but pots excavated in a recent dig a few years ago show that we all go back a long time," says curator Bhaskar Rao. The galleries of the City Museum give the visitor a perspective of how Hyderabad evolved over centuries as it traces the growth of civilization in the area.
The City Museum is split into different subsections:
- Transport – Evolution of movement in the region
- Art and Culture – Traditional crafts and artistic expressions
- Crafts – Showcasing Hyderabad's famed Bidriware, lac bangles, and more
- Science and Technology – Innovations from the region
- Jewellery – The famed pearls and gemstones of Hyderabad
- Medicine – Traditional Unani and Ayurvedic practices
- Cuisine – The evolution of Hyderabadi food
- Architecture – The landmarks of the city
There is also a chronological timeline showing prominent landmarks springing up: Golconda Fort (oldest), followed by the Qutb Shahi Tombs, Purana Pul, Charminar, and Mecca Masjid.
📸 Note for Visitors: The artifacts stored in the Hyderabad City Museum are priceless, and photography is banned in this segment of the museum to avoid any untoward accidents.
⚠️ 2018 Theft of Gold Artefacts
The museum became part of international news in September 2018 when two thieves managed to steal several gold artefacts studded with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds by breaking into the museum at night. Both culprits were caught by the police the following week, and security at the museum was beefed up after the incident. The stolen items, including the famed gold tiffin box, were recovered.
💭 Preserving History for Future Generations
When asked about how many people visit the museum, curator Bhaskar Rao reflects: "The museum still gets a considerable amount of visitors daily, but as cities grow, children are not able to comprehend the importance of history. People go to shopping malls instead of museums nowadays."
He also notes that a majority of visitors come from other places rather than Hyderabad. "Only a minority of the visitors are from Hyderabad. Everyone is moving forward at a rapid pace, and I agree that development is needed, but should it be at the price of forgetting our own history?" Rao asks.
⏰ Visitor Information
🕐 Museum Timings
Open: 6 days a week
Closed on: Fridays
Timings: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
💰 Entry Fee
Indian Citizens: ₹80 per person
Foreign Tourists: ₹500 per person
Children (under 12): ₹40
Photography is restricted in certain sections
📍 Contact Information
Address: Purani Haveli, Hyderabad – 500002, Telangana, India
Phone: 040 – 2452 1029
Email: heh_njpt@yahoo.com
Website: www.thenizamsmuseum.com
🚗 How to Reach
Nearest Landmark: Charminar (approx. 1.5 km)
Metro: Closest station is MG Bus Station (approx. 3 km)
Auto/Cab: Easily available from anywhere in Hyderabad
📌 Visitor Tip: Allocate at least 2-3 hours to explore both the Nizam Museum and the Hyderabad City Museum. The wardrobe of the sixth Nizam is a must-see attraction that visitors often miss – ask the staff for directions to the wardrobe section.
🏛️ Nearby Attractions
- Charminar – Hyderabad's iconic monument (approx. 1.5 km)
- Makkah Masjid – One of India's largest mosques (approx. 1.5 km)
- Chowmahalla Palace – The magnificent palace of the Nizams (approx. 1 km)
- Laad Bazaar – Famous bangle market (approx. 1.5 km)
- Salar Jung Museum – One of India's largest museums (approx. 2 km)
✨ Key Features Summary
- Established: 18 February 2000 by the Nizam Trust
- Location: Purani Haveli, Hyderabad (a palace of the erstwhile Nizams)
- Primary Collection: Gifts and mementos from the Silver Jubilee (1936) of the seventh Nizam
- Star Attraction: Golden throne used for Silver Jubilee celebrations
- World Record: 176-foot (72-meter) wardrobe of the sixth Nizam – world's largest walk-through wardrobe
- Vintage Cars: 1930 Rolls Royce, Packard, Jaguar Mark V
- Other Exhibits: Diamond-studded gold tiffin box, silver models of Hyderabad landmarks, 150-year-old manual lift, 200-year-old proclamation drums
- Extension: Hyderabad City Museum (built 2012) – traces 4,000+ years of regional history
- Closed: Fridays
- Timings: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📚 References & More Information
- Wikipedia – Nizam Museum
- HEH Nizam Museum Official Website
- The News Minute – A Glimpse into the City's Past
- The Nizam's Museum Official Site